'Brandon's Law' gets unanimous House support

Unanimous House approval was given to a bill designed to help find missing and endangered adults more quickly.

Sponsored by House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), HF1242 would expand the state's missing children's law to include adults who go missing under dangerous circumstances. (Watch the floor session.)

The bill, also known as "Brandon's Law," now goes to the Senate where Sen. Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm) is the sponsor.

It would require law enforcement to take a missing persons report without delay after notification of someone missing under dangerous circumstances, no matter the missing person's age; immediately conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if the person is missing, and whether the person is endangered; and promptly notify all other law enforcement agencies of the situation.

A working group would be convened to create a standardized form for law enforcement to use when taking a missing persons report, and to develop "a model policy that incorporates standard processes, procedures, and information to be provided to interested persons regarding developments in a missing person case."

The Jon Francis Foundation has agreed to pay the approximate $10,000 cost for the working group.